Automatic expression-controlling device



C. FREBORG.

AUTOMATlC EXPRESSION CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATIONFILED JULY 24.19l8.

1 Patented July 5, 1921.

luvsu'rom WIT-M5551 C.FREBORG.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Q APPLICATIONHLED JULY 2'4. 1918. 1,383,920. Patented July 5, 1921.

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MU m m W 0 F- WITNESS. INvEN R W CMZZ5Z1Z07- C. FREBORG.-

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED .IU LY 24-, 19 3- 4 suns-smear 3'.

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C. FREBORG.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1913.

1,383,920. Patented July 5, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

crrAnLns rnn'none, OEKANKAKEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR ro PRICE & TEEIPLE PIANO (loMPANY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

Application filed July 24,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F RnBoRo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Ex pression-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic expression-controlling devices, and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple structure which, coacting with suitable perforations in a music sheet or roll, will automatically govern the tone strength or expression during the execution. of th piece of music on said sheet'or roll.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a device in which the usual and desired tone strength, such as pianissimo, piano, forte, etc., may be automatically obtained, and, in addition, different tone shadings lying between the ordinary tone strength may be also obtaine My invention relies upon the fact, known to those skilled in the art, that the tone or expression in the operation of 'a player piano may be varied byincreasing or decreasing the suction applied at the pneumatic action. I provide a governing or controllingmemher, which, in conjunction with ports corresponding to various tones desired, controls the flow of air therethrough and the suction obtaining at the pneumatic action, as will be clear upon a reading of the following speci fication. i

These and other objects will be more fully explained; and set forth in the following specification and'shown in the accompany in drawings, inwhichigure 1 is a front elevation of the expression-controlling member; A

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same of a portion of the'board, taken along line 2P2Zof Figs. 1, 4, and 6.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along theline 33 of Figs. 1, 4, and 6;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of theexpression-controlling member matic, valves, etc. removed;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the diaphragm superimposed upon the structure shown in Fig. 4; z

Fig. 6 is a transverse horizontal section along the line 66 of Fig. 2; t

. Fig. 7 is a detail view, drawn to a large Specification of Letters Patent.

along the line 88 showing the pneu A CORPORATION OF. ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION-CONTROLLING nnvrcn- Patented July-5,1921. 1918. Serial No. 246,429.

scale, of aportionof the structure shown in Fig. 1, part thereof being drawn in section as along the line 7--7 of Fig. 2; parts thereof being shown in section,-as along the line 7 -7 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse horizontal section of Fig. 3 and Fig. 7.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.

10, 11, 12, and 13 'indicate' apertures in the tracker bar A, see Fig. 1, from which lead tubes 10*, 11 12, and 13 for expression control operation. Carried by suitable framework B is the compensating bellows C in communication with main air exhausting means, or the like, not shown. So far as the operation of my invention is concerned, bellows C may be considered as the exhauster bellows. v The framework B includes the fixed wall of the bellows O, which has a movable wall 0,. Carried by the frame B is the expression-controlling member, generally indicated by D. This means comprises a main chest or box 20, upon which is mounted or attached a suitable diaphragm 20, see Figs. 5 and 6, for example. The box 20 is provided with two chambers 21 and 22,

and between these chambers lies a dividing wall or partition 23. Provided in the partition 23 are the conduits or passages 23 leading. from the chamber 21. Leading from the conduits 23 through the back of" the chest 20 is a port 24 in communication with the interior of the bellowsC. Located i in the upper portion of the chest 20, extendcommunication between chamber 22 and the expression-controlling pneumatic 'to be described hereinaftersee Figs. 3, 4, and '5.

Superimposed upon 'the diaphragm 20 and the chest or box 20 is'a valve box, as I term it, 30, see igs. 2, 3, and 6, for example, provided with a chamber 30" therein, around which is mounted the apertured fixed wall 31 of the main expression-controlling pneumatic or bellows, generally indicated by numeral 32, and comprising in additionto the fixed Wall 31 a moving wall=33.- Leading downwardly through the lower portion of the valve box 30 are ports a, b, 0, d, and 0. Ports a,b, 0, and (Z are relatively offset with respect to a vertical plane, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

A slide valve 37 is slidably mounted to eoactwith and control the flow of air or operating fluid through these ports, said slide valve being connected by a bail 38 with cross chamber 40, see Figs. 2 and 3, for example, which cross passage is in communication with the passage .26, see Figs. t and 5, in the chest 20 through the medium of the small ports 28. Valve seats I), 0, cl, and c are provided adjacent the juncture of ports I), 0, (Z, and e withthe cross passage 4:0, see Fig. 1. eighted valves 42 coact with. each of the above-mentioned valve seats and normally maintain-the same in closed position, being weighted to maintain such closing position. Each of the valves 42 is carried upon a stem 42, which is guided with its upper end in eyed guides 4L3 extending into. the passage above the valve. The valve stems 42 at their lower ends rest upon buttons l l carried upon-flexible diaphragms 4L5, see 'Figs. 2 and 3, for example. Ducts 46 lead from beneath the diaph-ragms to the vertical ducts 47 extending upwardly in the lower portion of the valve 100x30 to communication with the open air. Mounted in these vertical ducts t7 are stems 48 carrying valve disks 49 normally resting upon the upper surface of the valve box 30 to close the vertical ducts 47. The lower ends of stems 48 rest upon buttons 49 which are'carried upon flexible diaphragms 50 in awell known manner. Ducts 51 lead from beneath the flexible diaphragms 50 to communication with the tubes or ducts 10 11 12 and 13 Suitable restricted or bleed passages 52 lead from beneath the diaphragms 5O to'above the same in the custom-- ary manner in the case of such pneumatic actuating units.

It will be apparent that upon a slot in the music sheet passing over one of the apertures 10, 11, 12, or 13, a pressure of the outside atmosphere will obtain beneath the corresponding diaphragm 50. Assuming suction or reduced pressure to exist in the space above the diaphragm 50, it will be apparent that the diaphragm will lift, pushing button 49 against the lowerend of the vertical duct 47.. This will operate to" allow the outside air to flow in from the upper end of the passage 47 under the button 49, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3, for example, and atmospheric pressure will obtain beneath the diaphragm 45. It should be explained now that suction or reduced pressure obtains in the cross passage 40, since the same is in communication through apertures 28 (Figs. 2, 4, and 5) with passage 26 in the valve 'chest'20, which in turn is in communication with chamber 21, and through ports 23 and 24, see Fig. 4, with the main bellows C. Suction obtains above the (liaphragm 50 by virtue of the fact that the spaces thereabove are in communication (see Fig. 7) and form a continuous cross passage which is in communication with the cross passage 40 by means of a vertical duct shown. in dotted lines and designated by numeral55 in Fig. 7, and shown in full lines in Fig. 8. The action described 'just above, after the lifting of diaphragm 50, will result in raising of the weighted valve 42, which will open communication between the eorre sponding port 7), o. d, or c and the main bellows C, as described above, causing suetion to obtain in chamber 30, and in the bellows 32. Glass or other transparent side openings L2 are provided in front of the weighted valve 4-2, whereby the action of the latter may be observed when desired.

Collapsing of the bellows is resisted by a flexible leaf spring attached at '60) to the movable wall 33 of the bellows, and connected'at its other end to the rod 61. which is threaded and provided with a threaded cap 61*. by means of which the tension. in the spring 60 may be increased or decreased for purposes of regulation.

This rod 61 is connected to a manual-control apparatus generally indicated by letter E, the description of which is not necessary in this application; I might state that so far as the operation of the structure shown and described in this application is concerned, I consider the manualcontrol apparatus as set at the position normally bring ing the softest expression, so that the automatic control may be considered asxbeing operative between its extreme limits; although. if the-manual control beset for an expression louder than pianissimoi s lower limit-the corresponding lower limit of the automatic control will be correspondingly raised, as will be obvious.

It will be noted in the apparatus that port a is provided with no valve 42, but is in direct communication with the passage 40,see Fig. 1., for example, and this passage a 'corresponds in a sense to the normal soft playing'tone. It is also to be noted that port a is the one first completely closed on inward movement of the valve 37. The port or passage 6 is not subject to control by the valve 37, and might be said to correspond to the loudest playing tone, and is also used to obtain what is known as a crash orsudden fortissimo expression. 2

Assuming .the apparatus to be in operath Wo ds tion, without any expression-control ;aperture in ,themusicgsheet passing: over .,the tracker bar openings;10,q11,,12, or 13, $all of h V l s 42; are in s ated positionen the whole floweotgair fromithe wind chest 9 th ti pneum t e h n) Pas through. tube 70. and henceintocrossipassage 25, from such ;cros s passage to chamber 22 to the chambers cl 0*,-from thence downwardly en -W; EQs JPe ag A t ughr r 2 o cross ip ssegeflein evahech s nd om t re hr ug ch be Port 23ffa'nd 24. tothe exhauster bellows it As was explained at the a beginning, the whole principle ofth'is device relies upon the fact that the degree. of ,toneor ex: pression increaseswwith an increase in the flow of i air through the. apparatus or, in the greater the suction' i. e.- the lower the pressure-the, sharper and a r 11 1,16 b ow str c y t e on, nd the louder .the resultingtonee Bearing this fact in mind, it will; be seen that-with only port a, providing communication between the pneumatic action and the exhaustingbel lows Qgpartial closingof the aperture a will prevent sufiicient flow of air therethrough to greatly decrease the pressure in the action chest. Furthermore, the movable wall 33 of the bellows, being afiI'ected by the obtaining of reduced pressure in such bellows, will operate to slightly collapse the bellows, cutting off more or less the passage of air through port a. This movement is adjusted by means of the spring adjusting means coacting with springs 60 when the ap aratus is properly tuned up.

ssuming an aperture in the music sheet to pass over aperture 12 in the tracker bar, the corresponding valve 42 on valve seat 6' will p be raised in the manner described above, and the port I) will provide an additional passage for flow of air from the ac tion chest to the exhauster bellows C. This results in a greater degree of suction, or a more reduced pressure obtaining in the line and in the bellows 32, and, as explained above, a louder tone results correspondin preferably to a piano tone. An increase suction may further collapse the bellows 32, although further collapsingis more strongly resisted by the springs 60, and the latter, coacting with the movable wall 33 of the bellows, in a sense stores potential energy; or, if the bellows be stantially decrease the resultant opening through ports a and 6, still the pressure obtained in the bellows is so much reduced that flow of air through the ports a and b is increased, notwithstanding the reduction of area. In other words, although the effective discharge area is decreased, the suction is so increased as to more than compensate for it, and produces a louder or piano tone. As the music aperture actuates valve sufliciently collapsed to sub- 42 ,seated on seat d'c;iport d will coact with sidered.

IWhen-a very loud or crash tone is desired, the valve controlling L flow gthrough port; e is actuated by passageofan aperture in the music sheetover the tracker bar aper ture 10, and this port e, being uncontrolled bythe valve 37 presents a maximumof di s-, charge-conduit. I

Combinations of the ports may be 'ob tained by the simultaneous passage of two or more of the music apertures over the tracker bar apertures lO, 11, 12, and ,13, and. the resultant tones obtained provide ad tion in expression-control more or less discharge area, vious.

It will be apparent that my invention is susceptible of many modifications and improvements, and I do not wish to be restricted to the form shown or described, beyond the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a structure of the class described, an air-exhausting means, means to convey air thereto, a plurality of ducts providing communication between said air-conveying means and said exhausting means, a valve normally closing each of said ducts, means to open each of said valves upon passage of a corresponding aperture in a sheet of music over a tracker board, said ducts being each provided with a port, and a main valve member for regulating flow of air through said ports, said ports being located in different positions relative to the direction of movement of said mainvalve.

2. In a device of the class described, an exhausting means and an air conveying means, a plurality of ducts providing communication between said means, said ducts bein provided each with a port, a valve slida le relative to said ports to control flow through said ducts, said ports being successively advanced relative to the movement of said valve, a bellows having a movable wall, means connecting said valve to. said wall, and separate valve means for each of said ducts controlled by passage of an aperture in a music sheet over a corresponding tracker bar aperture.

3. In a device of the class described, an exhausting means and an air conveying as will be obditional variations, ,andenable a liner grada-f by providing port a to increase the suction at the action means, a plurality of ductsprovidin'g communication between said means;-said ducts being provided each with aport, a valve slidable'relative to said'ports to control flow through said-ducts,"said'ports being successively advanced relativeto the movementof said valve, a bellows having a movable wall, means connecting said valve to said wall, separate valve means for eachof said ducts controlled by passage of an aperture in a music sheet over a corresponding tracker bar aperture, yielding means to resist closin movement of said bellows wall and va ve, and means to vary the resistance of said yielding means.

4. In structure ofthe class described, an exhausting means, an air conveying means, an expression control means interposed between said air conveying means and said exhausting means comprising a chest having a compartment in communication with said air conveying means and a compartment in communication with said exhausting means, a chest having ducts providingcom munication between said compartments, and means to control flow through said ducts,

said last "named means comprising a common control valve, a bellows having a movable wall connected to said valve and independent'valve's permitting or preventing flow through each ofsaidducts.

" '5. In structure of the class described, an exhausting means, an air conveying means, an expression control means interposed between said air conveying means and said exhausting means comprising a chest having a compartment in communication with said air conveying'means and a comparb ment incommunica'tion with said exhausting means, a chest having ducts providing communication between said compartments, and means to control flow through said ductsfsaid last named means comprising a control-valve, a bellows having a movable wall connected to said valve, and independent valves permitting or vpreventing flow through each of said ducts, said ducts being progressively advanced relative to the movement of said control valve.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. v

CHARLES FREBORG. 

